001Everybody, I call to order the regular session 6 PM of the New King County School Board on February 24th, 2026. For the record, the board has voted unanimously early this evening to allow Mr. VA, who is traveling through Australia right now, to participate telephonically. We've attempt at attempted to reach him and at the moment uh we are unable to get him. Uh at this point, do I have a motion to come out of close session? >> So move. >> Mr. Broski has the motion. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Mr. Rhymer has second. Miss Davis, please pull the board. >> Mr. P. >> I. >> Mr. Broski. >> I. >> And Mr. Rhymer. >> All right. Motion has passed unanimously. Miss Cooney, could you please read the certification of the close? Yes, sir.
002Whereas the new Ken County School Board has convened a closed meeting in the state pursuant to an affirmative recorded vote and in accordance with the provisions of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. And whereas section 2.2-3711 of the Code of Virginia requires a certification by the New Kent County School Board that such closed meeting was conducted in conformity with Virginia law. Now therefore, be it resolved that the new Kent County School Board hereby certifies that to the best of each member's knowledge, only public business matters lawfully exempted from open meeting requirement by Virginia law were discussed in closed meeting to which the certification resolution applies and only such public business matters as were identified in the motion convening the closed meeting were heard, discussed, or considered by the New County School Board. Thank you. Do
003I have a motion to approve the certification of the closed? >> So move. Mr. >> Rhymer has the motion. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Kuna has the second. >> Uh, actually, I don't think you can no >> second your own certification. >> Second. >> Mr. Noski has the second. Miss Davis, please pull the board. >> Yes, sir. Mr. Pagano, >> I. >> Miss Kuna, >> I. >> Mr. Broski, >> I. >> And Mr. Rhymer, >> I. All right. Motion passes unanimously. Please rise and join us for the pledge of allegiance. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> All right, everybody. The first section on tonight's agenda
004is presentations and recognitions and school spotlight. Dr. Nichols. >> All right. Yes, sir. Uh this is a first for us. Uh since we've been doing senior of the month and athlete of the month, never ever has that been one in the same person. But I will tell you, the young man you're going to meet is truly one of a kind. So, um Thomas Moore is our senior of the month. He's also our athlete of the month. Um he was going to be here via video because he has a regional playoff game at 8:00, but he can make all things work. So he is here with us now on the court. So I think Thomas wants to talk to us a little bit about uh his journey, his plans, and um I got to interview him
005for our podcast last week and I'll tell you it's by far uh one of my favorite, if not my favorite uh conversations. and you'll see why very quickly. So, Mr. Moore, podium is yours. >> Good evening, Mr. Chair, Mr. Vice Chair, school board members, Dr. Nichols and GIS. I'm Thomas Mo, a senior at Nick High School. About eight years ago, I had a desire. I went to buy miscellaneous items, not just for me, but for others, too. I want to share and give to others. However, there was one major issue. I didn't have a single dime in my name. I tried to ask my mom for money, but she always told me that money didn't grow on trees. To solve the problem, I try to get a job multiple times at 9 years old, and
006they always turn me down. Imagine a small boy walking to gas stations and general stores, asking employees if he is allowed to work there. Eventually, I told my grandmother about my crazy idea, and she told me to start my own business. At first, she gave me the idea of creating soap and other different items, and I told my classmates at school about it first. As soon as those words came out of my mouth, I was laughed at. At a Christian private school, I was made fun of, and I didn't want to light that fire with that passion. After some time, I realized that I needed a solution to the nonkin. So I brought back the soap idea and people loved it. I continued to innovate the idea and made it even funnier. I created a
007I created TMC a skincare line that has actually now holds customer expectations and experience very highly. For me going to college is an important step because it gives me the chance to build on what I've learned grows a man and myself for a meaningful career. I plan to attend a university and double major in entrepreneurship and sports psychology. In college, I will continue to work my business while trying to expand it globally to all. My goal is that one day, whether it is in England or Australia, that team will be employed for years. As an athlete, I will continue to stay around the sports. With that, I will strive to get a mentor advocate for athletes. The college will give me the foundation that I need to reach that level. Over the past 12 years,
008I've attended three Christian private schools throughout Virginia. Each one shaped me in some way. When I got to New Kid, I learned far more lessons than any over the top. This school has shown me that I've set the standard both in and out of the classroom. And teachers and staff have truly made that difference. I'd like to shout out Mr. Connor for teaching me to hold on to my faith in everything I do and guiding me through the way I got. Mr. Bell for reminding me to always have fun when I do. And Mr. Cop encouraged me to reach for the galaxy because I'm truly already at the stars. Their support has shown me why new Kent is truly extraordinary. At this time, I would like to thank Principal Strickland for selecting me to be
009the class of 2026 senior and actor. I'm truly honored and I also want to thank her for writing our recommendation letter for the area for leadership award playing a central role in being selected for this. Her support and efforts have made a real difference for me. My classmates and fellow student athletes that I will uphold with me for as long as I live. Finally, thank you to my family for always supporting me and being here with me tonight. Thank you for picking me up when I fell and smack me across the head when I disapprove off. I love you guys. As I discussed some of my entrepreneurial goals, I would like to share a little bit more about my business. At this time, I will share a small token of my appreciation forwarding you with
010the title of senior and athlete of the month. I hope you all enjoy. Chairman, if I may, the spirit of entrepreneurship is one of the things that I have long wanted to encourage in this school to see this young man embrace it so heartily uh is great. I wish you all the success in the world. >> Yes. So that incredible. >> Thank you. I appreciate that. Thank you. >> Thanks, sir. >> All right. So, I've got your senior of the month. And not to be outdone, you stick a good job. >> Now, I should keep these until you win tonight, but we'll go ahead and give it to you. Okay. All right. >> Thank you. So, Mc Thomas has his own Etsy store. Is that correct? But you're also your products are in several places
011uh that you can Yes. >> purchase. >> I was >> not quite as amazing as you at that age. Probably not yet either, but thank you. Um our other athlete of the month just tipped off nine minutes ago. So that is none other than Rain Otay. Um she is on the girls basketball team. Um and also a phenomenal student as well. So we do want to recognize her um as she leads us to victory over TAB tonight. All right, Mr. Pagano. Our next recognition is National School Counseling Week. So, February 2nd through 6th, uh, so this has passed. Um, was National School Counseling Week and we celebrate our school counselors because they do amplify our students success. So, you see our fantastic counselors there by school um, from New Kent Elementary all the way to
012New Kent High School. We could not do these work this work without our fantastic school counselors. So, National School Council. >> Thank you, Dr. Nichols. It is also school board clerk and deputy clerk appreciation week. So on behalf of the Newfan County School Board, we sincerely thank our clerk, Miss Johanna Davis, and our deputy clerk, this guy, Dr. Brian Nichols, for their professionalism, diligence, and steadfast support of the board. Your careful preparation, attention to detail, and commitment ensures this board's work is conducted efficiently and in full compliance. Your reliability and collaborative approach are essential to advancing our mission and service of students and the community and help this board perform its duties. We greatly appreciate the high standard of excellence you aim to consistently provide. We appreciate and thank you very much. Brian, now I
013get to recognize you guys. It's also schoolboard appreciation month. Uh we've been celebrating you on social media. Uh we also have some gifts for you which we put um out on the table earlier. U there is some rain in the forecast. So you have an incredible umbrella from the high school, other gifts and some team new Kent gear for you guys. But thank you guys for your leadership and your continued support. Um especially as we go into this budget season. Uh we work together well and we get things done and uh we really appreciate the work that you guys do. So, happy school board appreciation month. And you also have your certificate in your packet. Our next uh recognition is National AfricanAmerican History Month. Uh our schools are celebrating all month long. uh daily recognitions,
014uh bulletin boards as you walk through the high school, contribution highlights, uh profiles on the morning announcements, uh wax museums, recommended readings, and uh much more. So, uh thank you to our schools and everything they're doing to for that celebration. It is also career and technical education month, otherwise known as CTE. uh that is part of our employment pathway um and our enlistment pathway. So you can see on the screen all of the different pathways that we have for our students u and that does not include some of those pathways that they have at bridging communities regional technical center. So CT is a big part of our work and a big part of our budget which we will see coming up. So that concludes my recognition. >> Thank you Dr. Nichols. And looks like at
015this time we're going to take a brief recess so you guys can take some pictures and then get out of here and get ready for that game. All right, we are in recess. are back in session and before we move on um we are going to make a change here. So, do I hear a motion to amend tonight's agenda to add the four line items under section 7 entitled items for vote of consideration to section 10 action items to be voted on? >> So, moved. >> Mr. Broski has the motion. Do I have a second? >> A second. >> Miss Kuna has the second. Miss Davis, please pull the board. >> Mr. Pagano, >> I. >> Miss Kuna, >> I. >> Mr. Temproski, >> I. >> Mr. I. >> All right, that motion passes. The
016agenda is amended and those four items are now under action items. Our next item on the agenda is the consent agenda. Board members, by now you've had the opportunity to review the items listed, including meeting minutes from January 26th, monthly financials for December 25 and the superintendent's recommendations regarding 52 personnel matters and one student exemption matter. Do I hear a motion to approve the consent agenda as presented? >> So move. >> Mr. Broski has the motion. Do I have a second? >> Second. Mr. Rhymer has a second. Miss Davis, please pull the wart. >> Mr. Rhyme, >> I. >> Mr. Droski, >> I. >> Miss Kuna, >> I. >> And Mr. >> I. Motion passes unanimously. Consent agenda is approved. Miss Morheim, already ready to rock and roll. Thank you. New business. Please. Proposed budget.
017>> Mr. Chair, board members, Dr. Nichols. Tonight, as in every other night of the year, we are talking again about the budget. Um, again, it's an ongoing process. It's not just um, you know, a few months during the year. It's constantly we're working through this. So, we will jump right in. This is going to feel like a lot of information. Um, I know with the snow days, we had some changes in our meeting schedule. So, typically we would have maybe had a presentation and then a little bit more time to dig in, but we will continue to do that. we will have some sessions available um for some further conversations um and also I think at the next board meeting we can kind of make it feel a little more work session style to kind
018of dig in if there's things that you would like to kind of dig deeper so I'll start with the revenue um we do have an increase we are growing where our enrollment is increasing as you know we um have talked about this in the past, but we are increasing our ADM budgeted 3,620. With that comes additional anticipated state revenue of the about $1.7 million. Um that could change. There are some different um legislative um priorities that could bring that number up um hopefully a little bit higher to help us to kind of close the gap. Um, so we should have that information in the upcoming weeks. >> Andy, just make sure that I right now we're using the governor's budget for these figures. Uh, board members, as you know, House and Senate have just reached
019cross. So that's the new data points we would eventually get. Additionally, um you will remember in the past that we have talked about a CIP transfer into the general fund. Typically remember that's been $300,000 for the onetoone initiative. Um in the past we've actually talked about trying to lower that amount and push into the general fund to not carry that as a CIP item. What we're actually doing is taking CIP funded items, which we'll go through those a little bit later in the presentation, and shifting those into the general fund budget. So that will be a transfer in from the CIP into the general fund budget. Um that helps us to report to the state those dollars that we're spending. There is a bucket of state funding called infrastructure and operations per pupil. Um, and
020all of these things would fall into that category. The state gives us $824,000 and we have to have a local match of about 688. Transparently, what we've done in the past is transferred year-end balances into the CIP um appropriation of prior year funds, and those are one-time projects typically that we're using that money on. Um, so this kind of trs it up a little bit better to really show dollar for dollar how we're using those state funds. Um, I just want to point out with contingencies, you know, past years we have spoken about how important it is to have a contingency and how limited we have been in our contingencies. So, I will point out a few things this evening that make me a little bit uneasy about the contingencies that we have and how
021we oftent times use those to balance our budget. Um, and so I really do want to try to hold on to a little bit of that, make some changes, just feel a little bit more comfortable um in that area. Currently, we have um an increase built into the budget of 105473. What that does is makes our contingency line exactly the amount of money that we have to match for our textbook transfer. We do have other purchases in the division and in the budget that qualify for that match. So there is a little bit of wiggle room there which is usually why I reduce that line item to balance the budget. Um but I really would try to like to hold on to that if we can if at all possible. Next slide salary and benefit
022adjustments. So in 206 in the current year um we did make some changes. So just knowing every year and this is where we're really looking at the budget year round. If a position comes up, we're looking at how can we use it differently. Um so we did eliminate a mass specialist position that we had to become a vacancy last year. And we also used a vacant um teaching position to fund, if you remember, an assistant at the high school and also some teacher and residencies for the current year that we're in. Um there is a 2% budgeted for all staff that is funded through the state. 358,819 is what we receive. is the cost. So that's the difference um between we've talked about in the past the SOQ funded positions versus you know kind of
023everybody an additional 1% for teachers is cost 236 393 um I will say I did look because I was curious um usually we show a chart here starting salaries for teachers we're low Um but I will say that that doesn't feel as applicable these days because we are on average hiring step 11 um for example from from the pri the current year that we're in. Um, I feel like we're doing better because we are decompressed in our scale. And Miss Anderson may say, um, maybe it's a little harder if she does get a new teacher, you know, to competitively say we're not as high somewhere else, but I do feel a little bit better about higher up in the scale. >> Well, we do have a lot of M's level teachers and our rates on
024that scale are varied, but >> and and we've intentionally done that. I did look over the past five years we've increased our master's starting salary by 20%. Which I think is very very good shows that we're committed to that. >> Miss Morgan, just to interject real quick point of clarification. These two increases are just budgeted. They're not contractual obligations at this point with employees. >> Currently, this is what we are proposing. Absolutely. 2% is actually the state is providing or planning to provide their share right >> of that 2% but yeah >> there was thankfully a VRS rate reduction which saved us 678 350 um which was a great year to happen because we also have a healthcare increase um we are looking at an 11% anticipated increase in our healthcare but we are trying
025to um lower that working through um really kind of wait until the last minute to see where we end up um and hopefully get that amount smaller. There will be some increases for employees. We are going to try to shift that um again to just really look at the spouse coverage. So employee plus spouse um employee family with the spouse. Um but everyone might see a little bit of an increase in healthcare >> and and board members as we've talked regionally to superintendents across a couple different regions. Uh that's actually a really good number in terms of healthcare increase. >> Even the county is seeing something significantly larger than that. >> Um >> but we'll keep working with our team to to get it as low as possible. >> I know that the Warhill amount
026is >> sir >> and I know the Warhill amount's significant. Yeah. So just just talking regionally it's uh people are looking at that's basically BRS is offsetting not quite but helping to offset a healthare. >> The next slide is really just looking at oh and I did I do want to just point out that our salary and benefits are about 84% of our budget. So really that's why we spend so much time really talking about the salary and benefits is a big uh part of what we do. for people business um transportation scale adjustments. So the cost above the 2% would be 2146.98 and what we're proposing is that our bus drivers hourly rate be increased start at $23 per hour. That is more in line with regionally what we have. It could be a
027smid just like a little bit higher than that even. Um but we felt comfortable that we could get more drivers to come um if we increase that rate and we feel that's very important to do to fill those positions >> or members folks that are at that rate or actually a little higher than that are not having the vacancy issues that we continue to uh struggle with. And in talking to our drivers and talking to transportation uh I know it's a significant cost in a budget that doesn't have a lot of additional revenue in it. Uh but we really need to close the gap on the number of drivers uh that we need. >> Within that number as well is an increase for our car drivers um at $17 an hour and the bus aids
028as well at $16 per hour. For our paraprofessionals, we really um are looking at the differential between levels of pair of professionals. So we have a level one, two, and three. Um, it's a general ed pair of professional. It's a specialation uh paraprofessional and then a special education um more of a high needs type of a special education pair. So, previously it lined up and that it would go one step higher for a level two and then one step higher above that for a level three. We've spread that out so that a level two is two steps higher and a level three would be four steps higher um for those individuals. Um, and that total cost above the 2% increase would be 60,097. Supplemental adjustments. Really, when I I'm really trying to tie these supplements
029to a bachelor's scale to something that typically would increase each year. Um, if you remember our stipen scale, for example, for our coaching stipens does tie directly back to a pay scale. So that annually when you get a cost of living adjustment, those will go up a little bit as well. So we are trying to tie back the lead teacher to be 4% of a bachelor's and that would increase it from 1405 to 21.85. The admin interns would be 8%. and it would increase from 34.93 to 4370. The clinic supplement, which our clinic attendants are on a level three parah, they used to get a 750 add-on for working in the clinic. We're proposing that go up to $900. And then we're adding new transportation testers. So, we're really trying to create a third party
030testing center in New Kent. So, instead of sending our drivers off to DMV to be tested, we're able to qualify to do that locally. Um, and to do that, we want to have maybe three or four of our folks um have this supplement for $1,000 to be basically testers um in the division. >> What's the benefit of that versus having them go to the DMV? >> It it kind of pays for itself. It saves us the money of sending them to pay for their testing or taking the time, you know, to have them to to be there or wait for them versus us just being able to do it here. >> Scheduling in appointments have quite a bit of lead time as well. When you control the training, you control the certifications, you could do
031it on your time. So, it's it's a both hand. It's an >> I think eventually it's our goal to have other divisions even utilize our services so that we can uh make some revenue as well. Okay. stipen amendments. We just spoke about the um these are mainly sports um some non-sports beta things like that class sponsors web masters things of that nature. They have typically been tied to the bachelor scale. I um think it would be closer aligned if we move that to the master scale. More than half of our staff are on a master scale. Um most of these folks are our folks. So this is just a good way to um increase a little bit on those stipens. They're not very high. Um so just an example um might be a supplement that's
032like 2,185 is going to be now 2360. So you just see that kind of what that looks like. The next one is hourly rates. Same kind of concept really looking at in the past we've paid teachers who do like so remediation homebound driver's ed things of that nature and have received $30 an hour. If you really look at what an hourly rate is on even just our teachers bachelor scale it's closer to 36. So we are budgeting an increase to 36 per hour. Um, and also on the tutoring side, which is more closely aligned kind of with an instructional assistant, moving that from 15 to 16. And um, attrition, I think Mr. Rhymer, we've spoke about this earlier, but we are definitely hiring um, higher than what we have in the past. we're getting more
033experienced folks which which is wonderful coming into new but when I'm budgeting a vacancy I'm just looking to budget that a little bit higher um so that we have that funding available when when we bring those folks in regional programs this slide um pretty much speaks for itself we just kind of outline what the overall increase is one thing to note we did just have a bridging communities meeting yesterday. We are trying to um work on a deal to get a credit for a few seats. So, that could potentially be a savings of about $11,000. Um if that's approved, there's lots of different things that New Kent specifically does for bridging. >> We're their fiscal agent, we're their HR, we help with technology and all those kind of things. we were yesterday with their board,
034which we're a part of, um to say, you know, there's a cost associated with all of that. Um so, could we get a credit back for all the partnership that we do? And uh the board landed on really crediting us for two seats. So, we'll still have they haven't voted on it, so that's why we're using this language. We have 93 seats there now. We would pay for 91. So, uh, great. >> You would you would see a little bit of a savings there, which is what other regional schools do with their partners, >> saving money. >> Yeah. Not really. >> Um, we'll look at our expenditures and again, uh, we can do a deeper dive and you you can we can talk through more detail, but I just wanted to kind of, um, high
035level kind of give you an idea of what we're increasing. I do want to point out because it's kind of false advertisement. Um, we did reduce $342,829 to do other things. So, what I mean by that is there were a lot more needs um in these departmental budgets, but the team really took the time to go in and look at where can I make a cut to really try to rep prioritize what it is that I'm doing. Um so, kudos to them. This number could have been much higher. I'm really proud of the work that that they put into it. Um with that being said, um here are some increases that we do have. The adjustments to the school baseline budget is just a per pupil amount that we offer every year. Student services is
036looking at um contracted services, something unique. Um for Christine, we have a lot of folks vacancies in some of our um special ed services lines. And when you have to contract those services out, it's very expensive. So, we typically will use savings in our salary lines that we have. Um, but we also need to account for anyone maybe that's going out on a leave where these are required services that we have to provide. Um, we need to have that budgeted um because it's very expensive. And so, we are trying to build that in and transparency. We could go over that in a given year, but I feel a little bit better that we're getting a little bit closer to where we need to be. Student services. Most of that is going to be um uniforms
037for NDCC. I do think they're going to need a little bit more money. We might come to you at the end of this year or in the next couple months with a few items that we weren't able to maybe get into this budget that we really feel strongly about. could be a one-time purchase. Um, so that might be one of the categories that we look at. Human resources and administration. >> Penny, can I jump back to the Navy program for one second? Uh, just a quick update on that on the Navy program. We have done the paperwork and we've had our area inspection. So, we are in the queue for the official ROC program. I think the federal government is doing 16 >> programs. 16. Yes. So I think for the first time in several
038years they're actually looking to add programs. So nationally they're looking to add 16 which is not a whole lot u but we are in that uh >> so there's a chance and we've done a lot of work in growing that program rapidly. Um, and the beautiful thing is new county schools, our school board as well have invested operational dollars in it, which I think will get us ahead of some other folks in that, which would be a huge cost savings for us once we're able to do that because they will actually pay a significant amount for the program we've already stood up. >> Yeah. >> Mr. Chair, if I may ask a question, >> please. >> Is that still required the $100 or $100 100 students? uh cadetses to join or are they like loosening
039the >> I'm going to defer. At once it was 100 then they looked at 50 and I'm not sure where it's at now. We are somewhere in the 60s. >> We're right at 70. >> 70. Yeah. >> Very good. Congratulations. >> Passive. >> So is it it's still at 100? >> Believe it's still at 100, but they they still feel like we have a very good shot at it even with not being up. And I think because in three years we've grown it from >> where we are now to to 70 plus in the future looks bright. We added second instructor. >> Uh we're bringing in eighth graders. So I I think that really boats well. >> Any idea on when we will know for sure >> no no timeline. >> So but for the
040first time they're looking to add programs which is nice. >> It's been frozen for quite some time. So, continuing into tuition, um you'll see in this budget that we're trying to have five teacher and residents. So, there's a tuition side to that and also a salary side to that. The tuition um that we have in for those is 36,000. That's for four. Mr. Miller is um hoping to fund one of those in our title 2 grant, which saved us a little bit of money there. Um and then that's about 9,000 in just a general increase of uh paid tuition for staff in general. Schoolboard we are looking at um board docs is converting to diligent community. Um that is something maybe that could be an option of one of the things that we try to
041move forward with a little bit quicker than next year. Um but regardless I would say that we try to build that into the budget and just have that built in for the same year. And then finance is really more of an increase for tuition or for property and vehicle insurance. >> Miss Kun, >> I was going to ask, can you explain what diligent community is? I've gotten a few just brief comments with the VSBA uh emails, but no no details on what that is. >> So So Bor docs is is is going to be no longer and diligent communities taking over what was Board Doc. So um >> it's a computing software product. >> Okay. >> So it's it's yeah it >> diligent owns more docs as well. >> Yeah. So diligent bought more docs
042and it's it's merging it >> there. So it does give you the interface. It gives you the policy piece that's searchable. It gives you all of those different things uh related to it. >> Is the 2800 in addition to what we already pay for? Yes. That is an increase. >> And so what would that total amount be? >> $5,500. >> And that's for the basic. >> That's for the like >> I think it's a we haven't seen all of the training, but I think it's for a little more than >> it's definitely more beefed up. >> That is a it is more than what we currently have, but it is the lowest tier of of diligent. DJ community is more featurerich than school board or docs but school board or docs is not going to
043be an option. So >> so be turning off the service and the help and all of those things related to Mr. Robert's familiar with that when people buy software. >> It's an old trick but a good one. >> Thank you. >> Question. Um continuing with additional operational services. We're continuing our outstripting of our custodial services. There is an increase in that line of 26673. Um Mr. Todd, Mr. Paula, Miss Stewart, their whole team has really done a good job this year on focusing on these things with inventory replacement schedules, um, capital improvement planning, and just really trying to get a good hold on what is needed in their budget to be able to do all of the things that they're required to do to maintain our facilities. Um, with that comes an increase in their
044budget line, but there has not been a great amount of increase in their line in the past. Um, and I do believe that this really is more in line with our actual expenses in those different categories. >> Will you be sharing what those categories are in more detail? >> Absolutely. >> Okay, great. >> Um, we will have that in the detail and it's really about cost of supplies. Um, there's a lot of annual inspections. There's lots of things that they've determined these are items that we contract out with different vendors or these are the items that we're doing more inhouse and really balancing those line items of where do I have my contract services line budgeted what vendors am I using for what services versus what internally are we responsible and what are we doing
045with our funds that we have in our budget >> and board members think about the filters that you have in your house that you have to replace that times the school division and the increase of cost in goods um is significant >> in that I will also say there is a $25,000 contingency line and again um we will look at that if we have to but that is something a good example was when we had the snow we had to clear some ice that's a little different than what we normally do um it's really hard for us to look at folks and say you got to make it work you you know, when their budgets are so lean already really having to make it work just gets harder and harder um when there's there's not
046a lot of wiggle room there. >> And remember, we don't budget for that kind of ice removal and we were not able to do that ourselves. That took some specialized equipment that we should not be purchasing because it's not fiscally responsible. That would allow us to have that flexibility, although I hope we never see it again. Mhm. >> Transportation has a minimal increase really. That's just rising cost of materials, parts, um technology. We're adding in the simple discipline that was grant funded I believe in the current year. Again, just rising cost of materials and kudos again to Mr. Terry just really working with again big picture technology. you know, what departments are using what type of technology and how are we building that into replacement cycles, things that we know and can anticipate what we
047need and what years we need them in. And then just wanted to include school nutrition in here. Just a note because we've had a lot of snow days um that that really is a consideration for us as they you know do fund their own budget line items and that's a significant loss in revenue for them on a snow day. It's about $10,800 a day. So if you add up kind of all the days that we have um just to kind of give you a preview that that may be something that we have to pull through either their fund balance or help to provide some additional support for that position requests. Um I'm not going to stand here and read these to you. I will say in the two elementary teachers most likely would be Nent
048and um Quinton uh currently speech language pathologist again we have a lot of vacancies there so that's where the contracted services comes into play if we have this type of a position it's a little bit lower we might be able to fill it a little bit easier um and they could also do those similar things and we would save a little bit of money there >> and board members most of those positions either you've seen before uh because there were prior years that were unmet um or and are directly related to the growth that we're seeing in our student population growth in number and then growth in need uh of of students. So whether it's the uh special education teacher, par profofessional, uh be teacher to elementary teacher, like it really comes back to uh
049I just want to emphasize when you see we're getting additional state money is because we have additional kids. >> Yeah. >> Uh that we have to service. Mr. Chair, >> Mr. Ron, >> um, on these requests this year, I think this is going to be very important that we rank them in terms of importance. Um, and specify consequences if we don't have the last part, Mr. Specify consequences if we don't have that position. >> And we're also being creative in here. you see at the towards the bottom second from the bottom converting an existing social studies position to English because the need at the high school has moved to English just in terms of of numbers. Um you have 300 plus uh eighth graders going into that freshman class. Um so we we're not just
050adding we're also converting and shifting. So but point well taken. Thank you. >> And we do have that written up already Mr. Rhymer. So that will help us um as we go through and kind of start balancing with the revenue that we have. >> Um so that's everything that we kind of have included right now and what we're proposing. I just wanted to put out there these positions are not included but equally as important maybe just not prioritized as high. Um just to kind of let you know that division leadership, you know, supports these positions wholeheartedly. Um, these are obviously provisions that we we could argue that we need, but we know that, you know, that funding is not really available. Um, but want to definitely just put that out there. >> And I will
051say board members, I I think organizationally we're at a little bit of a uh tough spot in servicing the needs that we have with the existing personnel. Like at some point we've we need more hands. >> I think we're at an inflection point. >> Yes, sir. Yeah, I think that's a good way to put it. Um, so right here is 1.3 million. I think we could do really well with it. Um, but it's just not feasible cuz we don't even know if we get the previous 1 million in. >> U, but you know, our students have those needs. Our families have those needs. Uh, we we've just got to go after a way to be able to support it. >> Just wanted to bring back the capital improvement plan. We have had this conversation. Uh
052I think the only change here is there is a line item for elementary school playground equipment which we were able to add in and that's a high priority. We have GW needs some support in their playground. Eventually Newan Elementary um will have some needs. It does already. Um so that will support that. And you kind of see a little asterisk. I had a couple of these items. Those are the items I was telling you about earlier that are transferring into the general fund. Uh just wanted to touch on tax impact. I know it's not a fun conversation to have, but I always want to try to just, you know, help folks to really understand. This is a little uh piece of a flyer that we've created for our new Ken Elementary School project just to
053get kind of an idea for folks when you're in the community, you're hearing, you know, about a tax increase. So, this is kind of an example of what that could look like for for somebody. One penny increase um really is equates to approximately like 350 a month. Um and that's just on a home assessed at 419 560. Um so just so you know as a community and when we're all hearing about support for the Newkin Elementary School, support for these budget requests, things of that nature, um one penny can really go a long way in support and we are absolutely, you know, wanting to show the community our return on their investment in schools. So just kind of put that out there. next steps just really trying to see um what the governor's final budget
054will look like prioritizing our position requests and different things um to align with the funding that we do receive. Further discussion with the county and the board of supervisors u Mr. Hathaway will be proposing his budget on March 9th. Uh we will have a school board retreat with the board of supervisors on March 13th and then we will continue our discussion in our meeting on March 17th followed by public hearings for all of those things. Um and then final approval and adoption after the supervisors approved the budget. Just wanted to throw that email address out there for anyone that may want to comment on anything that they've heard. Um we love to receive input. We had lots of forums. Um, we still have advisory this week, so we're just really wanting some feedback on what
055folks are, you know, not seeing or wanting to see or see differently. >> Board members have any questions or comments from Morim? >> Mr. Chair, >> Mr. Bruss, >> I just want to thank you for adding that tax page. That was a great idea. >> Absolutely. >> Thank you very much. >> Yeah. Thank you. Do you think Dr. Nichols, you are up, sir. Schoolboard goals review and update, please. >> Yes, sir. Uh, project Newan Elementary. We continue to work on that project and have conversations with the county about next steps. Uh, we plan to have that to be a part of our March 13th joint meeting. Um, uh, the last time it was in front of the board, it did not pass. uh uh I think it's two to three and uh so we're back
056to the drawing board continue to work Mr. Adway and his team. Um it is a desperate need. Um and every day we wait is um troubled. So I did uh share this statistic. I don't know that I've done it publicly. So right now they have it in their plan as a $60 million project. Um I have said several times that uh a delay in construction typically cost you between five and 8% a year. So, if we take the low end of 5% a year, um on a $60 million project, um it's an it equates to an additional $ 1.5 million every six months we delay. So, every year we delay, it's $3 million, but we've been in this process of a delay for over 6 months now um in order to greenlight the design piece.
057So, just time is money. Um and right now it's it's adding up to, you know, approximately$2 million more dollars in a project. So that's how a project goes from I thought it was this dollar to it's significantly more. It's just the time delays associated with it. So our team remains committed to the project. We believe it has to happen. Um and we're ready to execute it on time and under budget. >> Thank uh the second one I gave the strategic plan update. I gave that to Mrs. more time with the budget piece really focused on goal three. Next month uh we'll be doing a highlight on goal two with our recruitment and retention. So under that strategy uh policy review and revision um policies are loaded on board docs and they are current. Um our
058team is going through regulations and doing reviews. Um and we're also working to create a form repository. forms change and when there's a form in the policy, sometimes that form does not get changed. Um, so you'll be seeing at some point, I'll let you know in the update when it happens, it'll be a link to the form. So when the form changed, the link still goes to whatever that form is. Um, I did share with uh with you last week that we've updated the GIS map. So special thank you to Mr. Terry. um that does connect to the policy piece, but now the GIS map in partnership with the county, you put your address in. It tells you your school zone, but it also tells you who your schoolboard member is. It tells you who
059your board of supervisor member is, and it tells you where your voting district is. So, we're we're taking care of a lot of questions with one click. So, um continued work on that. Thank you to everybody that has gotten that up and vote. >> Fantastic. Thank you, Dr. >> All right. Items for consideration. Mr. Rhymer, you are up, sir, with a proposed policy change to policy JC, admitting tuition students. The floor is yours. So, uh, currently our policy explicitly bans tuition students. I believe there are benefits to having allowing tuition students. First of all, it gives us some additional revenue that we can control. Uh West Point has capitalized on recruiting tuition students and it's a significant part of their budget. Uh it promotes New Kent as an exemplary school district with the improvements in
060our test scores and our status as a uh top 10 number seven I believe was uh the last I heard school district in Virginia. Um addition, uh recruiting tuition students would help us spread that message out and would also um once we start accepting them and uh we gain a reputation for being a place to come for exemplary education. Um I think it benefited us that kind of reputation would benefit us in a lot of ways. Once again, I point to uh West Point, which has a reputation as a school that that some ways I think is a little bit undeserved uh as being an ex, you know, one of the better schools in the area. Um and over time it may allow new Kent to enhance existing and develop new pro academic programs because
061the increased student base and the additional revenue might allow us to um enhance our programs in some ways or keep existing programs that we might have to cut um because of revenue loss that we're seeing. The section that uh explicitly bans it is quite simple. It says school board does not allow tuition students. Proposed change would be tuition students are allowed under the following conditions. School uh I must have got something out. School facil oh and staffing are adequate to accommodate additional students. the approval of the superintendent after reviewing the application for uh the tuition and the approval of the school board and the payment of tuition. Um so what I wanted to outline here and it also stipulates that students would provide their own transportation to the school. What I wanted to outline here
062is the administration and the school board be in control of who would be uh accepted into the school. So um we would have some choice in in the students uh and have a formal process for uh um asking for tuition and I fully expect Dr. ridicul you know I want this to be your program and so you would uh create the form in a way that would help you facilitate and choose students that's my um proposition is fairly simple u any questions and I invite questions from the administrative staff as well if that is allowed Mr. Yes, sir. >> Mr. Chair, >> Miss Gun, >> asking uh the experts in the room, does anyone see any negative? What are the negatives to doing like something like this and changing the policy? It sounds very positive
063and it can be very helpful to our division. >> Miss K, I'll go first and I'll defer to them. I I think there and Mr. Bmer and I have discussed these as well. Um there's a management side of this part. um that can be extensive determining uh is there staff availability? Is there capacity? Um as we're looking to build a school and have some capacity issues, especially in elementary um that is we don't want to do something that's going to allow or force us to have another teacher in those pieces and that takes somebody's eye to watch that. Um, so I I worry and I mentioned this in the budget presentation, people are stretched. Um, so you're looking at the team that would have to execute. So one of the six people um back there
064would really have to lead that process for us. Um, it's not something philosophically I'm opposed to. I I just worry about the management of it and and taking care of it. We'd also have to establish uh regulations which we've done some of the the research on that. Um, and what are the rules related to it? If we accept you in kindergarten, does that mean you're going to be with us all the way through or each year? It's a re-evaluation of it, too. >> Absolutely. >> We currently do that with staff members, students, staff members, children now, uh, that is not tuition, that is allowable piece. Um, but that review is kind of conducted. And you look at behavior, the ABC's, attendance, behavior, coursework. Are they doing those different pieces? Like all of those, Mr. rum
065would want to have in there, but somebody also has to lead and manage that. Um, so that I think is is the greatest worry uh related to this piece that >> may be a cost of growth of the program because you know it's chicken and egg until you have enough revenue to justify the addition of of a manager uh that will fall on the uh existing staff. >> Can we place a cap on the number of students we admit? uh these >> well there's an implicit cap with regard adequate facilities and uh staff. >> Yeah, >> you have 13 grade levels. So it it wouldn't be a specific cap. It would have to be related to space that Right. >> And the way you schedule middle and high school is very different than um elementary.
066Elementary worries me a great deal because we have so many students that move into this the community. >> Yeah. Well, I was thinking especially at this point, elementary would be off off the the table because of exactly those issues, but I was thinking mostly middle school, high school as we build out. >> So, I think those are all things that we would have to kind of work through. Uh >> I think one consideration just to think through right now that staff who come to work for us are allowed to have um a slot basically for their student. And I don't know that we've looked at that deep enough to really understand do we have employees who may say, well, I'm going to go work in Reicho or at Chesterfield versus I I want my child
067to go to this school, so I'm going to come, you know, teach here or be an employee here. Um, for that added value of having that student to be able to come to new head schools versus just being able to say, I'll pay in tuition. um and go work somewhere else. Does that make sense? >> Um so are you saying that right now teachers from outside the division are allowed to bring their students or professional staff? >> Yeah, we let Mr. Terry bring his daughter here. >> It's a great decision, >> right? It is it's a huge selling point for me when I'm recruiting. Um, and my concern with that would be I don't want to deny a potential employee student for a tuition student. And those numbers change volatily every single year, every semester.
068The other concern I would have is how is that going? The other thing that I boast and I'm proud of Mr. Miller's team for doing is keeping our class sizes um in a size that teachers are happy and kids are happy and parents are happy. Um, and I do attribute our class size to getting teachers, to keeping teachers, and especially those veterans that have come from districts where there's class 10, 12 more kids in a room than we have here. And I have concerns about that changing um with that policy. And again, um, with fidelity, like it would change over time with enrollment and and moving in and moving out. Uh I as the HR person, everything I feel like has to have complete fidelity and complete protocol because we don't ever want to be
069in a position where we're accused of of taking some or not taking others. And I just I worry about the management of a program like this at this point at the capacity that we're at. I take a different approach to it and I think that all of these questions are answered in a different framework. If the idea of having a tuitionbased student pool is some sort of revenue target, figuring out what that revenue target is. So for example, if we wanted this to generate $200,000 in call, let's call it net profit. >> Yeah. >> How many students does that mean we have to add, right? And what's the cost of that? I think based on the budget, Miss B Morgan, correct me if I'm wrong, we're spending what $13,500 a year on a student, something
070along those lines, where that's what relatively what the cost is. So, and I don't know if that's the accurate number, but but working backwards, let's say that was the cost to new Kent for each and every student for us to make a certain amount of dollars, right? Person has to pay tuition above and beyond that, which makes me think that >> this might be dead from the start. Nobody's going to pay 20 grand a year to come. >> Mr. Chairman, if I may. >> Go ahead. Um actually I think you had that wrong. That's the revenue that we get for ADM, right? >> No sir. So that includes state and local. So you're speaking like the peral expenditure is really state and local expense. So it's more about like half that that the state we
071would receive state funds for that student about half that amount. Success. >> So so let me state it a different way. So, I think this only has nuts and bolts if you're able to say the proposed tuition would be X, call it $20,000, and I'm making that up. And now, what's the cost of us having that student? Let's say that cost is $15,000, >> right? >> Well, there's $5,000 that maybe New Kent made, but if that's eaten up in management because we need to hire someone else, that revenue doesn't really exist. It doesn't really generate it for us. >> And it could be the other way around, too. So, you know, I don't know that we have any anecdotes to compare that to outside of West Point. I don't know what West Point's tuition is.
072>> $3,200 per student. >> I don't know that that moves the needle for new Kent, but you know, the idea is if we're looking at it mathematically with the idea of generating revenue that frees up, you know, or creates X amount of dollars so that Haney can hire five new teachers every year. What does that math actually look like and does it work? If it does, then I think a lot of these questions and problems are answered and maybe, you know, there's a person that's hired out of that revenue that that handles this management piece, which seems to be the biggest concern. But if it doesn't generate enough revenue to to to have this benefit to address the school's concerns and the admin's concerns, then then we're off to a non-start. >> I agree. >>
073Yeah. So, I think we need more information. And my other question would be just kind of the lawyer piece in me is what legal requirements do we have to meet? What code sections are out there? what are the roadblocks that we have to overcome? Is there something we got to pass with the state or or Virginia Department of Education to make this thing happen other than it's it's a you know nice sounding idea. What do we have to go through to actually put this in place? And then is the juice the juice worth the squeeze? Right. Just one more piece just connecting to that. So, you know, student cost by student is not the same. Some students cost more than other students. um and some students throughout their time end up fosting more because their
074needs uh become more pronounced or circumstances change. So just just knowing that uh you know student may come to us and then need some exponential needs that they're now our student. We just we have to have those guard rails in place. As I as I said I'm not philosophically opposed to it. I just am going down all of those different avenues to make sure that we're protected and and it's beneficial. Mr. Chairman, >> Mr. Hawkman, may I ask you a question? You worked at West Point for a while, right? Correct. >> Um any observations from your experience there uh with how the program worked and and uh whether Yeah. it what what problems they had and what benefits they had. >> Yeah. um some of the problems they ran into as they started growing in
075that community. They built some new housing developments. Um that reduced the number of open seats that were available and as an effect they actually ended up losing money and had some financial concerns because they were losing income for people that were paying to go to school. Um that was a big deal there because um the whole way it was run there was based upon open seats per grade level and then admitting people on a competitive basis for that and unanticipated growth or people moving in could push you over your ideal teacher student ratio which would result in potentially having to hire an additional teacher which um would be push you into a depth. >> Right. So the idea was to uh maximize capacity with without adding additional resources. Got it. Anybody else? All right, moving
076on. Mr. Rhyr, you're up again, sir, with a proposed policy change to require graduating seniors to pass a civics test. So this I proposed as part of the uh testing initiative that was uh uh part of the strategic plan and it's also something that we've experimented with a little bit here at uh new kit. Um but uh feedback has has prompted me to think it probably wasn't robust enough. Um, one of the things about the the citizen test that um, most people don't know is it's an oral test uh, where potential new citizens are uh, they study a course of work and they don't know what the questions are going to be in advance. Um, and they typically get uh a small number of questions, but they're oral and the interviewer has a chance to,
077you know, expand things uh if they want. So, a a written test isn't going to be the equivalent of a citiz of a citizens exam. Um, I went online and research uh did some research of some of the sample questions and it's quite wide wide ranging. There's a lot of material that they could potentially be asked about. I don't think that probably fits well with our curriculum, but the material itself uh suggested to me that uh you know it's something that that citizens would want to know. It covered uh branches of government and different responsibilities, important and historical events. Um, and the course material, you know, and I assume that our civics uh curriculum is is similar in nature to what a citizen would be required to know in order to naturalize. What I wanted
078us to do is have a standardized test that allowed a student to demonstrate that kind of knowledge. Um and it test would focus on the basic structure of our government. require knowledge of federal, state and local institutions. Require knowledge of different branches of government, the respective powers and jurisdictions and require knowledge of our rights and responsibilities and the scopes and limits of our government's power. I like I said, I added a um a link to the study questions that uh naturalized citizens study from 2025. I and I I thought it was an you know a good set of knowledge to have. Um that is the general found uh framework I think assistantship test should be. I don't know that it's the board's duty responsibility to develop the test. I'm not sure how the other testing
079initiatives have come about so far, but uh as part of our general testing strategy, I thought that this would be important. Any questions, >> Mr. Chair? >> On the agenda, it indicates that this is a policy change to require it to make it a graduation requirement. Is that still >> I misspoke. I got a civics passing civics requirement. >> Okay. So, just passing civics, >> but that would still implicitly be a graduation requirement, >> which in and of itself is a graduation requirement. I just wanted to make sure I understood whether or not you wanted to add this as a specific separate graduation requirement and that they have to pass these. No, I think this it's part like I said I want it to be part of the testing initiative that as part of our
080strategic plan that we voted on some months ago. >> Um so Mr. Chair, if I may ask Dr. Nichols or maybe Mr. Miller some questions. Um, can you explain what high school students currently do as part of I understand that they take a government class and in that government it's a required class. >> Yep. Also >> that they take as a senior >> Y >> and that as part of that class they are required to take a form of the US citizenship test. Is there do you know what the details of that citizenship test is as it stands? >> Yeah, so currently um so the naturalization test um that spoke about there's approximately 128 questions that possibly show up on it. That's what the spe the civics questions there that went to our a citizen
081has to be able to answer 10 of those that are randomly selected. So they ask you to prepare for all 128 types of questions and then just 10 are randomly selected and given to them. Currently we do have all of our students when they go to government take a sample of that it's a 20 question um 20 questions off of there um to show hey how are you doing with those questions and a lot for their knowledge of hey these are things that you should know and how are you doing. we do collect their scores off of them um and and use that sub to guide or okay so how are we doing on um instructing in those areas >> um and then what is the did you already say this sorry did you say
082that 12 is required to pass out of 20 >> say again >> 12 is is you >> yeah that would be what what would be required is a pass a passing score >> at the passing score but it's not given orally >> so it's just given and is it is it given at the end of the class. I'm guessing >> actually they just recently took it for the spring semester, so it's not actually to the end. >> And I will say that's a that is a small subset of the assessments we do. That's just a thing. When you look at the standards that government students have to know, it is far more extensive than that. And they do take quizzes and tests and benchmarks and exams and and civics for us because we're in the
083Commonwealth of Virginia and the standards say so. starting kindergarten from what is a citizen and those pieces to branches second grade teacher I taught the branches of government um you know that is kind of what's outlined in there so there's no shortage of assessments for students to show proficiency in order to pass eighth grade civics so just a reminder that eighth graders take a class that is called civics um and it is an entire year focused on uh being a good citizen and what a great time to do it in middle school um So, yeah, >> those are, you know, just some of the pieces that that we have in a well-rounded uh civics education for students. So, Mr. Miller certainly knows way more than I do, but that's just kind of my piece on
084it. Is it fair to say that passing the civics exam is an essential part of passing that class or is >> it's one assessment that that we >> one assessment >> and we did it for students to show proficiency but we really did it so they understood what the process was to become a citizen um if you weren't you know born in this country. So that so it it's I think I think it's really twofold on that. >> Yeah. the the the bigger intent there yet is to is to see what the naturalization was at this time. >> Got it. Our our exam for government is far more rigorous and our test than and detailed. So I'll put our government of kids up against anybody. >> So with that in mind, is there anything that
085you, Mr. Rhyr, would propose like augmenting the test? Would you want to look into maybe making it more difficult or >> Well, it depends upon the firms >> since we have the civics test and I guess it's are you really making it a policy proposal because I don't think it's an actual policy. I mean, are you I'm just wondering what your policy proposal is. policy the policy this was just intended as part of the policy we've already proposed which is that new kit would develop its own test uh standard for in particular subject areas right >> do you know how the policy is what >> I did I didn't reference it I'm sorry >> that's okay um I looked up the like graduation requirements policy but given that we've got We voted uh on this
086uh I forget which minutes I read it. I read the minutes of it to make sure. Uh >> I don't know which meeting it is right now. I should I should have just part of it. >> For me, it would be just helpful to see exactly how you're looking to amend that policy. I don't uh Okay, I'll go back and do a little bit more work on how it fits into the policy and uh uh and what was proposed >> and since it's already in place. Yeah. Exactly. What are you proposing since it sounds like we have a test in place that addresses these? >> Maybe. Uh I don't know if the current civics test does the things that that I I want uh a test to do, which is make sure that they're prepared
087for citizenship. >> Mr. Miller, did you say that you the government class takes essentially the questions the 128 questions that are listed on there and pulls 20 of those randomly? Yeah, they actually they take it through the the naturalization. Sorry, basically it's a portal. >> Yeah. >> And it's and it's multiple choice. I've taken it and it's it's frankly it's pretty easy. >> So does But do those questions cover what you've specified? >> Well, because it's 20 questions, it's difficult to cover the whole set of items. And that's my biggest problem. I would say that the the accumulation of our assessments does cover every bit of that uh that a student demonstrates throughout a semester. Um if I may, I I would be very hesitant to make one test either determine whether or not a
088child graduates from high school. That's what that would be doing. That's that's fair. And I think he was indicating that he didn't intend for it to be a graduation requirement, >> but it is a but it is essentially is if it's a civics requirement. >> Mr. Miller, may I ask does every student take that class, that government class? So every student regardless >> regardless of what Yeah. their focuses and their very small subset of students that they'll not take cover. If you're on an adaptive curriculum and you have a different diploma pathway outside of standards, same thing with eighth grade civics. Uh, every kid is in eighth grade civics. Yes. >> So, and US Virginia history and and all of the >> world history and all of the >> histories that we do. >> Yeah.
089I took that test when I was 21 years old and I was uh my citizenship and the hardest part was that like you said you had to prepare because you did not know what you were going to be asked and so you had to know >> all the whole thing and it was it was incredible. is easier for me because I had gone through school and government etc. in high school but it is it is really quite something. >> Yeah. >> I I have a few comments and observations. I mean I think every test works like that and that's the the purpose of of going through right a subject matter is to know it all and you're going to be questioned on some of it not all of it. That's just how a test works.
090>> Uh I think we can all agree that all of the points here Mr. primer are super important, especially in today's day and age. I don't think there's any debate about this in the room. >> This seems to me to be, although very well-intended, redundant. It seems that what I'm hearing is these issues are already addressed. They're already things that our students are required to take. Eighth grade and civics, government in high school, all required. I mean, I I remember learning this stuff in grade school and so on and so forth. The different, you know, checks and balances, the departments of the government, all this other stuff. So, I have a feeling that we're trying to solve a problem that doesn't exist. Um, and and maybe cart before the horse here, but maybe if we
091looked at, and I don't also don't know entirely that this is so far down the hole that it's not necessarily in our purview anymore. Remember, we're a board of governance that now we're deciding or talking about what type of test somebody should take or what the material on the test is. I I don't know that that's maybe maybe too far down the line especially with um our role in agreeing that you know contractually and otherwise that the superintendent and the admins and the people that do handle the day-to-day operations of schools and classrooms at that basic of a level. But maybe the answer is before we decide that this is a problem that needs a fix that we look at what's actually happening. Look at these tests. look at what's going on in a class
092on any particular year, look at quizzes and tests and figure out that all of this stuff is addressed and probably addressed very very thoroughly and we don't necessarily need to take this any further. I mean, what problem are we fixing if we don't know that there's an actual problem? >> Well, can we can we have can we get can we see those tests that you're talking about to kind of look them over ourselves to evaluate and answer that question once and for all? Yes, it's being covered and >> I think the board can vote on that, request that information. Sure. >> Maybe that could be the next step. >> Um, yeah, that sounds good. Um, so I can make motion that as a next step, uh, we request that, uh, Mr. Miller would uh present
093to us currently the uh sample of the assessments that civics classes are required to take. >> Is that a proper motion, Mr. Chairman? >> Yeah, I think that's fine. Is there a second? >> Second. >> May I ask a clarifying question for you guys? >> Yes, you may. >> Just because this now takes staff time and resources, I just want to narrow it as far as we can. >> Yep. Because if I pulled every assessment for every >> I said a sample. >> I get that sample for government. >> Right. >> Okay. >> For the senior class, >> right? If if just because somebody's got to pull these and somebody's got to print them and somebody's got to give them to you. >> No, you're right. This needs to be limited. >> I I keep
094looking at the same five people. Six. Sean's off to the corner. U >> excuse me. Aren't these tests already generated and they're in a database somewhere that could just be pulled and printed out? >> So, yeah. They're going to pull them in and print them out. I just That's why I want to narrow it to not >> Yeah. >> Thank you. >> the government. So, I'll restate the motion that uh Mr. Miller provide us a sample of tests from the senior government class that would cover the items that are listed in this proposal. Is that to your liking, Mr. Superintendent? >> Not to your liking. >> Mr. Pano's question about roles and responsibilities, but the board votes. We will take that for you. Not a problem, Mr. >> So, you've now made an amended motion.
095>> Yes. Is there a second? >> I second. Miss >> Kuna has seconded. So, the original motion is now tabled. The motion before us as amended by Mr. Rhymer, please Miss Davis, pull the board. >> Mr. Rhymer, >> I. >> Mr. Ross, >> hi. >> Miss Kuna, >> I >> Mr. Pagan. >> Hi. >> All right. So, that motion has passed unanimously. If we can at your convenience, sir, please get the materials. I think we might be able to put this issue better. All right. Thank you. All right. Next one is the 250th anniversary/reading revolution. Miss Kuna and Miss Dumbroski. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. As our nation celebrates the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence of the United States, we would like to ask the board to request the school division to provide
096specifics on the activities and special events our schools have planned to commemorate this important milestone in our nation's history, this current school year, and into the 2627 school year. If there are no set plans in place, I ask that the board require that they be provided in a timely manner. While the second continental congress voted for independence on July 2nd of 1776, it officially adopted the declaration of independence on July 4th, 1776. The signing of this founding document cemented the foundations that were already planted in the minds of many of the colonists, the idea of self-governance, of popular sovereignty. But we would have to fight a long and difficult war that lasted eight years against the mightiest army and navy of the time in order to officially gain our freedom from Great Britain and eventually
097establish a constitutional republic. This is an amazing story that must continue to be told so that this generation and future generations will not forget the events and people that shaped American history and were part of the American the great American experiment that will hopefully continue for generations to come. As an example, 2026 is an opportunity for our students to dive deeper into the Declaration, a primary source document, and have meaningful discussions about the guiding principles that shaped our nation's concept of life, liberty, natural rights, and sovereignty, as well as the impact it had on other peoples and other nations. There are many ways to integrate the 250th naturally into all subject areas, history, civics, math, music, and reading. One example of how it can be incorporated into reading is to adopt the reading revolution initiative
098Mumbrasky will speak about shortly. In closing, I ask that we as a board ask all new Kent schools to provide a plan listing sample lessons, activities, and possible special events that will incorporate throughout 2026 to commemorate the semiquesentennial. This plan can possibly be shared at a pres presentation mode at upcoming schoolboard meetings highlighting lessons uh activities events for the following month or months and then possibly focusing on key events that already took place. I welcome the board's thoughts and discussion on the matter. >> Mr. Chair. >> Yeah. Anybody have any questions or comments? All right, Mr. Brassi. >> So, this proposal is based off of the reading revolution week, which was a statewide initiative uh last October, spearheaded by the Virginia American Revolution 250th Commission. Um, several classes at Quinton Elementary were lucky enough to
099be chosen to host uh Virginia's Secretary of Education at the time, Amy Gada, and her staff members. And they went and visited different classrooms and read various books which highlighted aspects of America, whether it was voting or history related. Um, thus far in putting this together, I've met with the director of New Camp Parks and Wreck and the New Camp Historical Society. They're in full support of this project and willing to assist as much as possible in preparing and presenting. So, what I'm proposing is that the school board approve the reading revolution initiative, which I would like to be offered to all three of our elementary schools. um it could be divided and be as flexible as much as possible whether they want to have it in individual classrooms or within the library setting time.
100Um I'm looking probably at the month of May is the when we could be ready by and what the initiative would include is a volunteer either myself or another participant from uh the historical society. Uh we would visit the school, the the room, the library dressed in colonial attire and introduce what the reading revolution is while portraying a actual historical figure named Mercy Otis Warren. She was an American revolutionary era activist, poet, playwright, pamphlete, and author. Um, so what the introduction of the reading revolution is is talking about so what is a revolution? Why is reading so important? So how is what would be a reading revolution and kind of get them to really understand what it is that we're uh encouraging them to do. The second part uh would be reading a selected book
101about America, the revolution or the declaration of independence. Uh the third part which would be kind of optional is a special presentation uh which would include a poem and PowerPoint highlighting why America is so special and important. And then the last part would be that the children would be invited to make a bookmark. And I just put a draft together. Um, on one end it would have a embossed sticker to get an idea of you don't know what it looks like. Um, it's an embossed that you It's pretty cool, you know. Always makes me feel like it's just old times. Um, but it makes it really official. And what it says is New Kent School's reading revolution. So that would be on one side of it and then um in the middle there is a
102place where they could sign their name pledging that they promise to read every day. And then the last component would be a what I envision as a new Kent America 250th logo. And for that I would like to open up a contest to all the middle and high school students uh to create something and then um we would put a committee together to select the winning entry and I've coordinated donations that would be directed to the new Historical Society and then distributed from them for the winning student to receive $250. Um, the purpose is to kind of get them reexited about reading and while also learning about our country and kind of trying to bring that excitement history to life a little bit more um for the students. Um, so I I put together just
103a basic what cost it would be. I mean, I don't know the cost, but obviously we would be looking to have the um card stock provided for the paper for the bookmarks, the printing. Um if we wanted to get a second embosser or maybe even turn it into a stamp, I noticed that it is kind of hard to hold that embosser. Um for the younger kids, they might be work better with the stamp. Um, and then I thought it would be fun to have them sign the bookmark with a quill pen, but knowing that probably better not to have little kids with ink, um, I was just thinking we could probably manufacture something with a marker and get some quill feathers and the white tape and tape it around there. Um, but just to bring
104a little bit more of that historical aspect to it. and then either ribbon or yarn for the bookmark tassels. Um, other than that, the preparation would all fall on me and the group of people that I've put together and then it would be having the schools or the uh, you know, Dr. Nichols or Mr. Miller um just create an email that would go out first to let the middle and high school students know about the contest and then secondly to figure out how to coordinate the visits and when those would occur. >> Questions? >> Yes, Mr. Ch. >> Mr. Ry, um have you talked to any of the PTOs about this? This seems to be a natural to me. >> The PTSOs. >> Yes. >> Um, no, I have not. As far as like getting
105their help on it, >> getting their help. Uh, uh, spreading the word. Uh, maybe even fundraising. Uh, seems like >> fundraising for light supplies. >> Yes. Seems like a natural fit for what they they already do. I'm going to parlay off of that and I mean I've got questions. With all due respect, what what authority do we have to to do this? We are the school board and we're now talking about embossers and stickers and tassels and books and and dressing up in costumes and all of that is a lovely idea. the 250th anniversary of America. Obviously, huge milestone, super important, but we are the school board. We have oversight and governance. And now we're talking about holding events with feathers. I'm not sure that that's in our purview or our role. I like the
106idea Mr. Rhymer's maybe proposing, which is this is a great idea. let's turn it over to somebody who maybe can do it and it's more appropriate for them to do like a PTO or some other group. I just don't know this is something the school board of the county should be should be doing or getting into. Um, I feel like we're in the weeds again with what's happening at a very root level in a classroom and what we're having a teacher do or say or, you know, or someday, some holiday, some other thing that's happening. I mean, I don't know that that's our role. I I have I have a problem with this. >> Mr. Mr. Chair, if I may refer to the schoolboard policy IIA, instructional goals and objectives. The new Kent County School
107Board develops and implements a program of instruction for grades kindergarten through 12 that is aligned to the standards of learning established by the board of education. >> Stop right there. It's our job to make sure that there's a program of instruction that's aligned with the standards of learning established by the board of education. That's our job from an oversight perspective, from a governance perspective, not from a what question is being asked on this individual test perspective, not let's read this one book by Mercy, whatever her name is perspective. We're the school board. We're up here. Admin's here, teachers are here. You're talking about doing stuff as a teacher right now in my opinion. We're up here. We are the school board. We do governance and oversight and hold people's feet to the fire when the
108standards aren't met. and our division goals aren't met and our tests are slipping and our ranking is slipping. This is much bigger picture our role in my opinion. Um, so again, I'm I'm a little concerned that about what we're talking about right now. >> So what is the what is the downfall of me as a school board member voluntarily being involved in this matter? rich. >> Well, that that's that I think is is a is a perfect >> proposal that if you volunteer and you help an organization like the PTO pull this off, I think that's entirely awesome and appropriate and and the way to go. I just don't think this is a schoolboard function or event that we should be a taking time with, bot. I I don't think that's at our level. But
109for you to propose this program and it's a great idea by the way um at a different level with a different organization I think is is the right method to make to make this happen. I don't think it's a school board. >> The reason I felt like I should bring it before the school board because I would be taking the time somewhat of Dr. Nichols and Mr. Miller and sending out the emails and making it known. So I felt like that was instead of just doing it on my own accord and >> it's it's like a tough thing to balance being a parent and a schoolboard member and a PTSO member like what lines do I shouldn't I not cross as one person but as another like if my son has a question or issue
110with a classroom I almost feel like a little nervous about approaching the teacher because I'm like I don't want him to get all nervous because I'm a school board member, right? And yet as a parent I have that responsibility. So I'm just trying to navigate and the reason I brought it forward is because I feel like we've been kind of encouraged not to take up administration's time with matters that haven't been approved. So that's why I was bringing it before the school board. >> Yeah, correct. And I and I understand that and I understand that some of these areas are gray. Um and I think if we think again second and third effects like so this is a great idea but you know a it should the board even be discussing it but let's say
111that it is a proper item for the board and we all agree on that whatever that item may be the second and third effects of it and what we're hearing constantly from from our team from our people that we support is that they're they're spread thin. They don't have enough money. They don't have enough people. And so when we add a management piece for tuition it's a problem. if we had, you know, so do we necessarily want Dr. Nichols, who leads our school division and his team to be single-handedly spearheading the 250th anniversary event? I'm not sure. It seems to me and and I think Mr. Rhyr's idea. It's I'm not trying to put words in your mouth, but you know that that launching that idea with your help and you're spearheading it right through
112another outside organization where students can participate in one way or the other, but it's not necessarily through admin, through classroom, etc. Maybe on that deep of a level through the, you know, the PTO or whatever historical societies are in New Kent and get the kids involved in some some event that they can attend or not attend, right? I think that's the better method to make something like this happen. Um, and again, just based on the content, it it it's all wonderful. I'm not trying to to poo poo the idea here. I just don't think it's our job to be doing that. I think we are, again, we're here. We're school board, right? Admin, teachers, down here somewhere is where events and things like that are happening. It It's not necessarily, in my opinion, something that
113we should be doing as a school board. >> I do think there's I personally feel like I guess our oversight on curriculum is lacking and that there's a lot of things I'm not personally aware of and I >> but you're not supposed to be on it dayto-day. >> I understand that. But we do provide oversight. >> Mhm. >> If I may, Mr. Chair, >> please. I have exercised that oversight a number of times uh by going and observing uh classrooms in session uh you know to satisfy my myself of the efficacy of a particular program. I I think if you have a particular question and um asking the administration for a chance to visit the classroom uh I mean he was more than willing to do that with me. Um Mr. Nichols, I know I'm
114speaking on your behalf, but I assume that you'd be more than willing to do that with any board member and do something similar to what I have done in the past. >> And also, if there's an area that you feel you would like more information, we'd be happy to uh we meet once or twice a month with you guys. We're happy to put a specific >> uh presentation. It could be prek12. Um you gave us some civic stuff tonight. >> I was say I think we just did it with government and civics. >> Exactly. Yeah. >> There's your oversight. So, so more than happy to bring that as a public facing presentation or work session to dive in deeper if you guys uh >> Mr. If I may, as a suggestion about how how to
115handle something like this, I I think we could as a board make a a proclamation or a resolution that uh we encourage the um organizations on campus that include the in, you know, the junior uh >> elementary, >> huh? >> Oh, even at the elementary school level. >> The elementary school level. um the Navy uh to participate as part of the 250th celebration to prepare programs and participate and then um make suggestions and about ones that already exist and then offer um our assistance if they want more information or some help. >> Mr. Chair, >> please. >> I think what I was asking for wasn't anything specific in my comments. It was just it seems natural right this is a major milestone 250 years I'm sure that there must be things that at the elementary
116school middle high school teachers are already planning we we knew this was coming and this was a milestone and I guess my request or my ask was that you share that with the board and I I made the recommendation you know share some of you know some of the key things that are going on in the month or that are going to happen next month related to the quincentennial. I think it's it's good because it's also kind of a a transparency thing. It's it's it involves the community. The community listens to the board meetings. We have sometimes visitors that come to the board meetings and I think it's a special event, a special uh milestone in our history. And so I was just encouraging that that kind of information any activity or for example there's
117if there's a spring concert are they planning they may possibly have some patriotic songs or songs related to the topic in their concert uh you know is is there going to be a special debate maybe in civics class you know vers you know uh patriots versus uh loyalists etc. So, anything to highlight uh the Declaration of Independence um independence from England in general and that monumentous event, I think that that that would be beneficial. I'm not dictating how it should look or what, you know, what it should be. I don't think that was the intent of you of the board. Well, it wasn't my intent. The reading revolution initiative is an example of something that can be done at a very low cost. um it's already kind of set up so it's less work for
118the teachers who may want to implement this. Uh I don't think it's uh you're you're not forcing this on down anyone anybody's throat. I'm not insisting that you know certain specific things be done. I'm just bringing out that this is an important event that school divisions should be celebrating throughout the year in various ways. how that looks. You tell us. You handle curriculum. We're the school board. >> I think that is a good explanation and a much more appropriate modeicum for the school board to handle this. If, for example, we said exactly what you were mentioning, which is, hey, this is a milestone. The board recognizes it. It's important that would incentivize if they're not already planning, which I'm sure they are, incentivize more plans to happen and then that feedback comes back to us.
119I I think that's an appropriate way to do it. It did sound very specific with some of the the things that were being discussed that I think in my opinion again is a different way that is not necessarily schoolboard appropriate. But the idea of it, you know, I think we all agree it's it's super important. It's a milestone. We want it recognized, but let's leave it to the people who are doing it, you know, the boots on the ground, so to speak, to let them do it. And then if we want to report on that, then that's something different. I think we can absolutely ask for that. that would under, you know, fall under oversight and governance. >> Yep. >> Because if I may, >> please, just real quick, u and we do have a
120lot of plans for the 250th celebration. We'd be happy to kind of organize those uh for you guys and share them in terms of a quick report or even a recognition piece. Uh but we're really excited about it. It is a big deal. Um we've actually applied for a grant to have a mobile 250th anniversary exhibit here. So, we're finding out about that. So, some of it is in play, but it it is it is definitely part of the work we're doing, and we can we can gather that. Um, we have that uh and uh if you see any holes in it, happy to >> plug plug them. Yep. >> Thank you, Dr. Nichols. That sounds perfect. >> Thank you. >> All right. Anybody else have any questions or comments on the 250threading revolution? >>
121I do have one more question, please. Would it be appropriate to have and see what the school division like. Do they have special connections as far as purchasing things? Would they be able to get better costs so that we can see how much it would cost to maybe purchase these supplies through the school division? If you don't have any special resources, then we can just figure it out. But I wonder if that would be a appropriate use of time >> that I'm not sure of. Miss Morgan, any comment on that? >> I think in general the schools have their school budget so that the activities that they have planned currently, they probably have that worked into some of their, you know, art supplies or instructional supplies, things of that nature. Like typically um for the
122budget conversation of just contingency funds, there's not necessarily funds to pull from um to start a new initiative if that makes sense. Unless it's that that folks are just going to need to shift some things around. >> Okay. All right. Anyone else? >> All right. Moving on. Miss Kuna, you are up with the superintendent evaluation. >> Right. I think the updated uh version is going to be placed on the screen momentarily. So, in November, we had a work session and Mr. Rhymer, you are not present, but we uh reviewed a draft of the superintendent evaluation form. Um there was discussion and based on that discussion and feedback, I updated the form and the form that is available now is is the the most updated the most recent update of that form. I was hoping that
123uh everyone had an opportunity to review it in preparation for the schoolboard meeting today and that we would be able to approve the form as a superintendent as the new superintendent evaluation form for the upcoming school year. >> Well, I would like to thank you again for your hard work on this. It's been going on for for a while and I know you've gotten a lot of feedback and comments and reworked the forms and took everything into consideration. I am now a fan of this form. I like it. I think it simplifies the process and what we're doing and I have I I like I have no questions about it. >> Yeah, Mr. Chair, if I may, >> please. >> Yeah, Miss Kuna, thank you very much. This was a lot of work and I
124think you did a phenomenal job. So, thank you. >> Thank you. Mr. Rhymer, any questions or comments, sir? >> No, I reviewed it. It looked good. Um, I know I wasn't part of the the session, you know. Did I get feedback? Apparently, you guys not people. I think it's just all right, Dr. Nichols. >> No, sir. All right. Very good. We have next section is unfinished business. We have no submissions. After that, we have citizen comment period. No one signed up. So we are now to action items. U so we're going to be a little bit flexible here given our discussions about these items. We voted earlier to amend the four items that are under voter consideration or now action items. Remember at this point we are voting as to whether or not we would
125want to make this an item we actually put on an agenda, a business item to move forward with. Um at this point, Mr. Rhymer, do you have any comments or questions about your tuition proposal >> or do we want to carry that so you can get more information? >> Uh, let's carry it. >> All right. So, no vote is required at this time. We will carry that. >> All right. And then Mr. Rhymer again on your uh civics test proposal >> until the the >> carry that until we receive materials. Yes. And then my lady colleagues, the 250th anniversary reading revolution. Do we have any proposal there from either of you as to how we want to handle it? If I don't need schoolboard approval to work with it outside of the school board, then
126I'm I just wanted to make sure I was following any necessary protocols. >> Okay, understood. Miss Green, >> um I think the the final proposal that we made to ask Dr. goals to share with us the plans and he said he's got that already in in the works and he's able to share that with us in the upcoming school meetings. That would be satisfactory to me. >> It's on my test list. I have >> Well, before you do that, let's let's make it official. So, do I have a motion to approve as a board the request for information about planned events and or other academic requirements for the 250th anniversary? >> So, move. Do I have a second? >> Oh, that was my proposal. Can I second it? >> Actually, you can, but it's fine.
127Mr. Drosky, will you second? >> I will second. >> All right. Miss Davis, please pull the board. >> Mr. R. >> Hi, >> Mr. Drosski. I >> Miss Kuna. >> Hi. >> And Mr. >> Hi. >> All right. So, that request is now official. Dr. Nicholson. >> Thank you, sir. >> And then finally, the superintendent evaluation form as presented. Do I have a motion? >> So moved. >> I have a second. >> Second. >> Davis, please pull the board. >> Mr. Rhymer, >> I. >> Mr. Broski, >> I. >> Miss Kun, >> I. >> And Mr. >> I. That motion passes unanimously. that is with the new pool. And then moving on, ladies and gentlemen, to the comment section. Mr. Rhymer, you're up first, sir. So, we're talking about money again. And you know, Carthage
128doesn't need to be destroyed again, but uh you do need to find additional revenues for both the operating budget for our school and for the new elementary school. Um I know that our county is facing any difficulties. We have less revenue this year going to be uh for taxation and uh a lot of the plans for business expansion have haven't gone as well as we've hoped. Famously, Bies is now on the horizon quite a ways and we've lost some revenues from um the race track. So, the revenue picture in the county doesn't look good, but at the same time, the school I think has proven itself as one of, if by name the best features of this county. uh we have seen under the leadership of Dr. Nichols and this admin team the school performance
129the students performance and I want to emphasize that students performance steadily increase until we are now um one of the best districts in the state um we're going to become a model some of our schools are going to become model schools right Dr. Nichols is that and in order to maintain the level of ac excellence that we we are beginning to achieve and allow our students to go on and do even better things or and broaden the scope of what our students can do. Uh we need additional funding. I mean, money does not necessarily correlate with student achievement. There is a point where it does start to impacted and I think we're reaching that point. We're going to have to make some decisions this year about resources that we need. We're not going to be
130able to have class sizes larger than what we would we had hoped because we know that the revenue this year is going to be short. Those of you watching out there or those of you who might uh see this on YouTube right now there aren't too many ways to increase revenue. primary one is property tax increase. And as a property owner who has his assessment ridiculously high, um I understand that you don't want additional taxes u placed on your property, but the county really doesn't have a very broad tax base at this point. And that's one of the few ways that we have gaining revenue. And as a citizen out there, kids in school or even as a citizen who wants to see this school achieved, you may be faced with a decision to support
131tax increase uh or watch this institution uh suffer. And it's not the institution again, it's important. It's the achievement the kids are making at this institution. Uh I know this is a redundant and possibly boring message to many people, but there's a period of time here in this county that all of our services are going to be strained and right now the school is really beginning to feel it. That's all I have to say. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. R. Mr. Deoski. I'll I'll echo Mr. Rhyr's comments and just add to that that um very grateful for everyone who got us through snow and ice apocalypse. Um that's a lot of uncertainty and daily trying to figure out what's going to happen next. So, thank you very much. I happened to come across a
132picture on Facebook that a teacher took of Dr. Nichols out there taking care of the ice himself. So, I know he and everyone else is very helpful in making sure that we got through that successfully and back to school earlier than other school districts. So, thank you for that. Um, also just want I have a my youngest son is a senior and in the government class and he was ousting me the other day on some information. So, I'm very impressed with the uh the teaching um especially since he's not a big fan of government politics, but he he knew stuff. So, um thank you for all that. And I think that's it. Thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Kuna. >> Oh, I I agree with everything that Mr. Rhymer said and I and I I
133also appreciate everything that's done by everyone on a daily basis. Um, I don't think I have anything else to add except my thanks and support for all that you do and appreciation for all that you do. I know that we're always asking more of you. Uh, but I think that that's part of what excellence looks like, right? We always ask and expect more of ourselves and I know that we can push ourselves to that next level. Um, so, um, thank you. >> Thank you. Uh, short and sweet. Thank you for everybody's hard work as always. Thank you for some healthy debate tonight and good luck to the boys basketball team. >> Davis, >> I want to call out to the wrestling team, second state champions. >> Mr. Davis. >> Yes. So, because it is school
134appreciation month, I did want to say thank you for your time and commitment to making school better. I appreciate it. Thank you, sir. >> Thank you. >> And Dr. Nichols. >> Uh, yes, sir. I get to work with incredible staff and students every day, and I just want to say thank you for choosing Team New. Uh, we have over 113 people registered for the uh Lumen Avenue 10K. So, we work hard, we play hard, we run hard. Um, it really is a team and it makes this place incredibly special. We do need a new Nuke New Elementary. Um our staff there deserve a world-class facility cuz world class instruction happens there every day. Um and uh girls basketball advanced in the region while we were sitting here. So um it's excellence excellence in athletics, academics,
135activities and everything else. So um also special thank you to Miss Morheim. I get to see the tireless hours that go into creating that budget and getting us to this starting point. it is u a beast and she tackles it um and comes up with a way for us to uh continue to advance the academic agenda and improve student outcomes. Those are my comments. >> Awesome. Thank you, Dr. Nichols. Thank you, everybody. So, uh let's see. The next meeting of the school board is a joint board budget retreat meeting Friday, March 13th, 9:00 a.m. Providence Forge Recreation Center. And then following that, we have a few days later our regular session. Tuesday, March 17, 2026, here in the historic courthouse boardroom beginning at 5:30.